Swansboro August 1, 2013
Jaegger Jolliff, from Jeromesville, OH, with a 31″ red drum he caught and released after it struck a live mullet in a bay behind Emerald Isle. He was fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly of Sandbar Safari Fishing Charters.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that anglers are starting to see the nearshore flounder bite off Bogue Inlet heat up. There’s still a mix of short and keeper fish (with some to 4+ lbs.), but the ratio is getting better and the bite has improved. Bouncing 2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulp baits around nearshore structure is the way to connect with the ocean flatfish.
Spanish and king mackerel have been feeding at many of the same spots within five miles of land and taking an interest in live menhaden and mullet. The mackerel action has been slow from 5-15 miles out, but anglers are finding some fish further offshore.
Amberjacks, dolphin, and keeper grouper are all feeding around structure 15+ miles out as well. Live menhaden are tough for all the predators to turn down.
Inshore, red drum are feeding just about everywhere anglers can find marsh grass and oyster rocks in Bogue Sound. Live finger mullet on Carolina rigs are nearly impossible for the reds to turn down, but anglers can also hook up on topwater plugs, Gulp baits, and other artificial offerings.
Flounder, gray trout, and bluefish are all feeding in the inlet, where drifting live finger mullet is producing action with all three.
Anglers are finding solid action with sheepshead and black drum around bridge and dock pilings in the area, and they’re fooling both crustacean lovers with fiddler crabs and live shrimp.
Robbie, of Hall ‘Em In Charters, reports that the inshore flounder action has been solid over the past week, with good numbers of legal fish coming from docks and other structure along the ICW. Finger mullet are prevalent in the area right now, and the flounder are showing a preference for them over other baits.
The flounder action is also going strong in the ocean, where anglers are hooking good numbers on bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp baits while fishing around nearshore ledges, wrecks, and live bottoms.
Kings and large spanish are feeding in many of the same areas as the flatfish, and they will pounce on live menhaden on light-wire rigs.
Randy Hall with an 8.5′ bull shark that bit a grouper carcass off Emerald Isle. He was shark fishing with Mike and Sherri Walker, Ian Shingler, and Jamie and Hunter Hall, and the crew released the shark after the photo.
Red drum are still looking for meals in the marshes behind the barrier islands. They’ll take an interest in topwater plugs and soft plastic baits, and live finger mullet have also been highly effective lately.
Chesson, of CXC Fishing Charters, reports that there’s been a solid mackerel bite (with kings to 30 lbs. and spanish to 6+ lbs.) at nearshore structure within a few miles of the beaches. Live menhaden are the best bets for both mackerel (with smaller baits and lighter leaders most appealing to the spanish).
Bottom fishing in the same areas is producing a few legal gag grouper, and menhaden are tough for them to turn down as well.
And anglers are also hooking flounder while jigging bucktails in many of the same spots where the mackerel are feeding.
Mike, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that anglers landed four king mackerel and some large spanish mackerel while live-baiting from the end of the pier last week (with kings to 27 lbs. and spanish to 5+ lbs.).
Bottom fishermen are connecting with good numbers of pompano (many 1+ lbs.) and sea mullet, along with some puppy drum, spadefish, and more. Shrimp, sand fleas, and cut baits are producing most of the action on the bottom.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are seeing solid action with king and spanish mackerel from the pier to spots out in the 5-10 mile range. Live baits like menhaden are fooling both mackerel.
Bottom fishing at offshore structure is producing plenty of black sea bass and some gag grouper. Squid and cut baits are fooling the bass, with larger live, dead, and cut baits attracting attention from the grouper.
Those making the trip to the Gulf Stream are finding action with dolphin, white marlin, and sailfish. Ballyhoo paired with skirted lures are getting the job done in the blue water.
Surf casters are hooking sea mullet, some fat pompano, and a few red drum from the beaches. Shrimp, sand fleas, and cut baits are fooling the fish in the breakers.
